The proposed contract, in its early stages, would supply the aircraft to the Marine Corps and Air Force through 2017 — renewing a current deal for five more years.

Textron of Providence, Rhode Island, and Chicago-based Boeing are in the last year of a four-year, $10.9 billion contract for 174 aircraft. Textron’s Bell Helicopter unit and Boeing have submitted a new request for proposals, officials said. The Navy declined to speculate on the potential value. At the current basic “flyaway” cost of $65 million apiece, the new contract could approach $8 billion. [Full story]